Fertility Specialist Question

Hi, today I went to see my doctor for a check up after my very sad just recent miscarriage. I am going ok, its hard to come to terms with having a second m/c though after having three easy pregnancies and healthy children. My miscarriages have been at 10 1/2 weeks and the second one at 11 weeks, so both quite late. My doctor said that my age can have alot to do with it (40) as there is a 50% chance of m/c, which is high.

She has said to me that if we do decide to go down the path of ttc again, she would like me to see a fertility specialist and see if they can offer some advice or tests.

What sort of tests do they carry out and does it mean usually mean quite a few visits to see the FS? My doctor said that if I was to fall pg again, that she would monitor me more closely and do regular scans, like at 7, 8, 9 weeks and so on.

I'm sorry for your losses. It can be distressing no matter how many children you have.

I think it's good of your GP to recommend seeing a specialist in miscarriage. The sad fact is that at a certain age the miscarriage rates start to skyrocket due usually to chromosomal problems. However... That might not be what has caused your miscarriages, so seeing someone who can do tests for other issues and give advice about your particular circumstances is not a bad idea.

You might have an initial appointment, scans and blood tests and then a follow up appt - then decide what's next on the basis of what is found.

They may want to do regular blood tests as well as scans if you were to get pregnant again - e.g. Test to see your progesterone levels

Thanks NotBitzerMaloney for youre thoughts and reply. No it is very hard dealing with miscarriage no matter how many children you have.

Im feel pleased that my doctor has recommended I see a FS. I know that my age has a factor in that there is a higher rate of miscarriage as it can be chromosonal problems, but not always. It seems strange that I have had two miscarriages at almost the same term in pregnancy.

I will give myself some time and time to talk things over with DH, but not too long as I am not getting any younger. Then hopefully I will be able to go ahead with the testing and hope that it does give me some answers.

Hi OP. After 3 miscarriages, my FS did only a few tests as my GP had already ordered a whole heap of blood tests for me. So the special ones he did were the karyoptype blood test for DH and myself, and then an internal (my GP had already sent me for a diagnostic ultrasound). These tests were arranged on the first visit. I then went back for results and as they were all normal, I was told to come back when I fell pregnant again. So not too many visits. I then had a scan at 5 weeks and 10 weeks when I fell pregnant, that's all. It's great you have such a proactive GP! I hope you have a successful pregnancy next time around.

After two early miscarriages (my first pregnancies) I went to a fertility specialist, my GP felt it wasn't worth me waiting for the traditional third to get checked out. FS was great, didn't make me feel silly for coming in. Blood tests (can't remember what for, I was still grieving), and they were ok. DH also had some and a sperm test; he was perfect. Then I had a HyCoSy, which checks path to ovaries. I think it was just part of my FSs "usual" process. That is a uniquely painful test and believe me I've been through other ones and that's the worst. I also don't ovulate very often so he started me on clomid (didn't work) while I was getting through the other things so I didn't waste any time (I'm in my mid 30s). Then for me it was IVF. That worked and then FS had me come in for early scans at the rooms (they had a great ultrasound machine there) then transferred me to my obs who deals with lots of IVF girls.

I think they tend to tailor what test to your situation. I'm so glad I went, it felt like I was doing something. I was in a blur of grief and stress. In some ways I think it was easier that I had no kids because after the miscarriages I could just shutdown and grieve. I am pregnant again and had some bleeding at 10 weeks. I think even that 24 hours of not knowing, assuming the worst, was worse because I felt guilt on top of it and I had to try to function for DD when all I wanted to do was curl up and cry. And that was only a scare, not the whole thing.

First Apple and Facebook announced they would pay $20,000 towards the cost of their female employees freezing their eggs, now IBM in the US has come up with an innovative new policy aimed at retaining female employees.